It is quite common to see athletes wearing their country’s flag in various competitions. It’s a way for them to show their love and respect for their country and homeland. The UFC is not expecting this image of fighters wearing their home country’s flag as they march into the Octagon. But former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov never wore his country’s flag at the UFC.
At a UFC press conference in Moscow in 2019, Khabib Nurmagomedov explained the reasoning behind it. In response to his fans, he said:Those who wear the flag say they represent their country… But unlike them, I don’t rape women, beat old people, or tell people to drink.” interestingly, Khabib wore the Ukrainian flag to get into a fight early in his career.
Khabib added that it is his way of representing his homeland and that flying a flag to the Octagon is not the only way to show patriotism. He believes that simply raising the flag is not enough, he believes that you must also display certain qualities in your character that are worthy of raising the flag.
Everyone in the MMA community believed that all the comments in the interview were directed at former rival Conor McGregor. Since their fight, Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov had always shared bad blood between them. All this makes their rivalry one of the best, if not the best, in UFC history.
Read More: “Just discipline and exercise” Khabib Nurmagomedov helps train Belal Mohammed for UFC 280 with Islam Makhachev
Khabib Nurmagomedov explains why he didn’t miss the fight
One of the best mixed martial artists in history, Khabib Nurmagomedov sports left at the peak of its power. “Word” in martial artspensionmeans “rarely”forever”, but Nurmagomedov is adamant about his choice and admits that he hasn’t missed the sport much since putting on his gloves in late 2020.
Speaking recently on The Muslim Money Guys podcast, he explained why it was easy for him to quit the sport. Khabib,”to be honest no [I don’t miss it]…Because my whole life was in my hands, not in my heart. It has never been in my heart. Of course I like it, you have to love what you do. I was a huge fan of the sport because my goal was to be the best, to be the champion like everyone should do. But when I’m done, I’m done.”
Also Read: Dustin Poirier trains with fighting legend Bob Sapp as he prepares for his Michael Chandler fight at UFC 281
Fighting pros almost never have an easy time retiring, whether out of competitive ambition, the money that comes with competing in the sport’s biggest events, or simply a desire to keep up with the best.
As such, it’s extremely rare for someone to quit in their prime, but Nurmagomedov He did so undefeated and after successfully defending the UFC lightweight title against Justin Gaethje. UFC 254. Khabib announced his retirement from Octagon in 2021.
Also Read: Cory Sandhagen strongly opposes giving Henry Cejudo the 135 lbs championship shot on return.
